{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*]*~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-Pseudo Psychic Verse *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*~1~*
I like it.*
Chapter 5:
Gossip, Schlock & Pillow Talk...
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*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*{****************}
"-ways knew you'd come back for him!"
Raphael just barely managed to fight off the groan and eyeroll. The tenth in the last hour. Yet again...
He swears if he hears one more thing about high school sweethearts, long lost loves, or freaking meant to be's he's gonna-
No...No...He's not gonna do anything. He's going to be calm and patient and personable and be there for his boyfriend exactly as he should. This is NOT about him. Nothing about this trip is about him...this is about Simon. This is all about Simon.
Coming back to Lawrence was about the last thing his angel ever wanted to do. He's doing quite well, being polite and cheerful and he does seem genuinely happy to see most of the weirdly LGBT friendly townspeople but Raphael can see he's on edge. He can see the nervousness flitting in those pretty honey brown eyes and the fidgetiness that's different from his usual Simon-fidgetiness. He sees the little hint of tension in his shoulders and how those pretty bright eyes quickly scan every room they enter and how he keeps an eye to the door and the windows everywhere they stop.
He knows the guy is tense and worried and he knows what it is he's worried about- WHO he is worried about. He knows that's what's occupying a good part of his Angels mind and that's why he's totally oblivious to the coupley type comments and the knowing smiles and the freaking bets being paid out at him coming back for his 'sweetheart'.
He also knows this is why Simon hasn't caught any of the Drake-weirdness. The moony, wistful looks, the not so joking jokes, the lingering a bit too long with a hug and flirtily teasing little comments and romantically nostalgic trips down memory lane. Usually Simon is hyper aware of the emotions of everyone around him- especially Raphael's- but this is anything but normal. With half his focus on the case and the other half on hoping he can manage to avoid running into his parents during this trip he can understand why it's flying under Simon's radar.
But it's just flying under his.
Raphael's seeing it clear as day, Mags's seeing it...hell even Alec's picked up on it by this point. For the last two hours both of them have actively been running interference for him. Alternating between shifting the conversation from the 'high school sweethearts' reunion' with eager questions about the town and subtle inquiries about Tyler or countering the cutesy Simon and Drake stories with just as cutesy Simon and Raph stories.
Yeah, he really loves these two.
"And so then after the Pelican squawked and charged and knocked the dear clean off the pier Raph jumped right over the railing to save him. Totally ruined one of his favorite suits in the process but didn't even think twice." Magnus finished, chuckling brightly.
"And they say chivalry is dead." Alec piped up, shaking his head, laughing at the memory, sending a teasing smile towards Raphael.
Raphael shrugged, flashing a sincerely grateful smile to the two of them before shifting over to Simon, smile warming all the more, reaching up, slipping his arm around his waist.
"You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for my Angel."
Simon blushed, beaming, giggling, leaning into his side, pressing a soft little kiss to his cheek.
"And I very much appreciate it..." he smirked teasingly, giving an impish shrug, pretty eyes sparking with amusement.
"It really was heroic of you to jump in after me... honestly though I'd of probably preferred it if you'd of went after the damn bird."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging, tugging him closer.
"Hey it's instincts! Usually I'd be all over going after who or whatever comes at you but I had to make sure you were okay before I set off on my quest for vengeance against the feathery, flappy menace."
Simon giggled, nodding, giving an exaggerated sigh, batting his eyes.
"My hero."
Raphael smirked, winking flirtily.
"Well I do try."
Simon huffed out a faint laugh, rolling his eyes, nudging his shoulder, flashing that adorable dimpled smile.
"You know you don't have to try. You don't have to put in any effort to impress me."
Raphael shrugged.
"Maybe, but I still will. You're always worth the effort Amore."
Simon flushed softly, setting closer, giving a sweet, wistful little sigh. Raphael hugged him close, leaning over, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to Simon's cheek, lingering a moment, taking a deep, centering breath. Raphael could feel him relax against him, feel a little of the tension and stress slipping out of his shoulders.
Glancing over he caught those beautiful honey eyes, smiling soft and adoring before pulling back faintly, shifting his gaze from Simon to the others, flashing a convincingly apologetic smile to the three people they'd been talking to. They were currently in Gabe's Diner where Tyler had worked under the guise of Simon making the rounds, giving his friends a tour of the town. They're standing casually at the counter, chatting with Bobbi-Ann the waitress and the eponymous Gabe...oh and of course Drake.
Raphael glanced around the trio, shifting quickly over Bobbi-Ann and Gabe, catching Drake's eye for a moment, subtlety holding it a bit longer than necessary before shifting back to the other two, shrugging, giving a seemingly contrite head tilt.
"Apologies, tend to get a bit carried away." He smiled, squeezing Simon's side, nodding towards him.
"He just has that effect on me."
Drake gave a faint chuckle, shrugging, shaking his head.
"More than understandable. Evie has that effect on a lot of people- really doesn't know his own appeal." He smiled gaze shifting over Simon, lingering faintly.
Raphael tensed, nodding, squeezing Simon's side.
"Oh believe me I am well aware. It's one of those things about him that are equally impossibly charming and uniquely exasperating."
Simon glanced over, head tilting. Raphael smiled, giving a bit of a wave with his free hand.
"In the best possible way of course. It's rather like his scifi fascination, his unwavering morality and his near complete lack of a brain to mouth filter. They can be a lot but at the same time they're so inherently Simon that you wouldn't have it any other way."
Simon giggled, nudging him.
"Well I'm pretty lucky to find someone who finds those things as appealing as you do."
Drake chuckled, smiling, gaze shifting over him slowly, head shaking.
"'S not nearly as hard to find as you think Evie."
Simon laughed, rolling his eyes.
"Sure Desi."
"He's right darling..." Magnus chimed in, slipping closer, subtly slinking between Drake and Simon, reaching over, resting his hand on Simon's shoulder, squeezing, flashing a warm smile towards Simon.
"Your little quirks and eccentricities are absolutely delightful, make life more interesting. You're like a walking ray of sunshine, always adding warmth, energy and positivity. You think you're lucky to find people who appreciate these qualities but you are a bit off there sweetheart.
We're the lucky ones having such a wonderful person in our lives to bring so much warmth, color and vibrancy into ours."
Simon blushed, reaching up, tucking a couple wayward curls behind his ear, glancing up, smiling sheepishly.
"Thank you Mags."
"It is just the truth sweetheart." Magnus shrugged, again squeezing his shoulder, glancing over.
"I doubt you ever even register half the impact you have on those you encounter. You really are one of a kind...unfortunately. This world would be a far better place if it had more people as open, compassionate and giving as you in it.
I mean just us being here says it all. How many people would drop everything and fly not only themselves but their boyfriend and two best friends clear across country just to lend moral support to a high school friend they hadn't seen in nearly a decade because they got dumped?" He seemingly started, looking over at Drake, all wide eyes and convincing guilt, free hand going to his chest.
"Oh goodness, sorry sweetheart. That was rather insensitive. No insult meant. I was j-"
Drake shrugged, waving him off, giving a somewhat sad smile.
"It's not insensitive, it's the truth."
Magnus tilted his head concedingly, giving a bit of a wave.
"Still it was rather blunt."
Drake snorted, again shrugging.
"Yeah well pretty sure that's kind of par for the course. Guy cleared out his home, ditched his job and disappeared into the night with nothing but a Dear John letter. Blunt seems pretty appropriate here, really no sense trying to sugarcoat it.
Ty sure as hell didn't."
Simon shrugged, head tilting.
"W-well...maybe it's not as simple as that? I mean it seems pretty out of the blue but if it was something that really affected him maybe it just threw him for a loop. You said the letter said about some kind of inheritance...usually something like that means someone passed away.
If that's the case that could have thrown him. If he suddenly lost someone he loved that could throw anyone out of whack, make them act irrational or make hasty decisions...decisions that after some time and with a clearer head they might rethink. O-or there could be something with the estate that needed to be dealt with quickly or maybe there's other complications that he didn't want to get into in a letter or just didn't have it in him to get into on the phone."
Drake huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.
"Yeah that'd be sugarcoating Evie."
Simon shook his head animatedly, bouncing lightly on his heels.
"No- not necessarily. I'm just saying there could be more to it. Yeah it kind of looks cut and dry now but you have like NO information whatsoever except two hastily scrawled letters. There has to be way more in play here than can be summed up in two pages of notes...Right?" he paused, looking from Drake over to Gabe and Bobbi-Ann for back up, eyes widening imploringly.
They kind of hesitated, clearly unsure, looking at each other before shifting back to Simon and Drake. Gabe just gave a faint shrug and a somewhat false smile, nodding.
"Yeah- that could be...it's a possibility...Oh hey look, the Wilsons' are ready for their after dinner coffee. I'll get it, you keep on catching up." He rushed out, waving Bobbi-Ann off, slipping around the counter, heading towards an elderly couple settled in the corner table.
Bobbi-Ann glanced after him before shifting back to Simon and the others, nodded animatedly.
"Oh absolutely. I'm sure there's something we're missing. I mean this is totally out of the blue. It seems really crazy and spur of the moment and that was not Ty. Guy was about as impulsive and free-spirited as a salmon swimming upstream. You could practically set a clock to him. He planned everything, overanalyzed everything." She paused, glancing over at Drake, catching his eye, giving a bit of a wave.
"It took over five months for him to agree to go out with you and before he would he set you down and flat out told you if you were expecting fast, adventurous and daring you were barking up the wrong tree."
Simon blinked, looking over at Drake in surprise. Drake caught the look, shrugging, giving a faint chuckle.
"He did...he had a whole speech...one I'm ninety percent sure he practiced. Flat out told me he wasn't some moony little ditz who's gonna be won over by a nice smile, a few pretty words and a cute accent. Said he doesn't play games and if I was expecting him to swoon and fall into bed after a date or two or even ten I may as well start walkin' now."
Alec laughed faintly, brow quirking.
"Sounds like he really laid down the law there."
Drake laughed, nodding.
"Oh most definitely. It was basically his way or the highway. We didn't even have our first kiss till our fifth date. He set the pace and that was that. He didn't play games and he didn't have much patience for people who did. Straightest shooter I've ever met."
Raphael couldn't help a faintly surprised look.
"And...You were good with that?"
Drake chuckled, shrugging, nodding.
"I was REALLY good with that."
Magnus looked him over, head tilting curiously.
"Because of him...or because of the challenge?"
Drake blinked in surprise at the question, shrugging, giving a kind of conceding wave.
"I-I don't know...gotta admit at first the challenge part of it was pretty appealing. I liked the fact I had to actually work to impress him, to get him to like me and trust me like that. And honestly I am kinda stubborn so I think a big part of sticking with it was because I knew at first he-and yeah like everyone else in town- didn't think I could be patient and take things slow and I kinda wanted to prove them wrong but then...I don't know.
Then it was just a Ty thing...one of his quirks. He has kind of a lot of them but they're pretty cute and unique...kinda just made me like him more. He's scary smart and clever, at first he seems kind of standoffish and cold but that's just on the surface, after you get to know him there's a lot of warmth there. He's really funny but it's not always intentional and he gets the cutest little surprised smile when he accidentally makes a joke and it lands." He trailed off, chuckling softly, a warm, kind of far off smile on his face before it shifts, a pang of hurt flitting behind his chestnut brown eyes.
Simon gave a gentle smile.
"He sounds wonderful. And it sounds like you two really are great together. I couldn't see someone like that just taking off out of the blue."
Bobbi-Ann nodded, pointing over to Simon.
"Yeah, I'm with Simon here- there has to be something more to it. For someone as levelheaded and logical as Ty to pull up stakes just like that there has to be something else than he was just suddenly loaded." She paused, giving a faint shrug, glancing over at Drake, kind of unsure, near apologetic.
"You sure it w-"
Drake sighed, shaking his head, waving him off.
"No...Again Bobbi. It's not that."
Simon glanced between the two of them, head tilting curiously.
"Wha-"
Drake again shook his head, gesturing towards Bobbie-Ann.
"She thinks maybe Ty spooked or got cold feet about us and that's why he took off."
Simon blinked, gaze shifting from Drake over to Bobbi-Ann.
"Why do you thin-"
She shrugged, absently blowing a light brown lock that escaped from the messy bun away from her face, blue grey eyes shifting from Drake over to Simon, waving slightly.
"Well just they seemed to be gettin' real serious-and well...you remember how it is...Small town, you know? People talked and gossiped and just in general feel that everyone's private business is up for public commentary. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about the relationship and most seemed to think everyone wanted theirs.
Some saying they were hearing wedding bells in the near future. Others how unlikely Drake was to settle down, that Drake was gonna cut and run, and all of that and of course the ones convinced that it wasn't gonna work as Drake was already take-er...uh-I I mean...you know It's just all the usual small town soap opera stuff." She swallowed, shifting, gaze flickering over Raphael and Simon, quickly glancing away, giving another shrug and a bit of a wave continuing.
"Ty was a planner to the bone and he didn't like things being out of his control. He always acted like he didn't give a second thought to any of the chatter but...well...I'm pretty sure the guy would act like that with near everything. He liked giving the appearance that nothing got to him, nothing fazed him and he was really good at it but...well...no one's that unflappable. Unless the guy was a robot or a full on sociopath some of it had to get through...it just did.
You guys have been together for over a year and I know he was falling hard for you and I kinda got the feeling it annoyed him how hard he was falling. I know he liked keeping objectivity and he tried not to put too much stock in the town gossip mill but you can only tune out so much.
He wasn't an impulsive person but he was very pragmatic and real squirrely about being caught off guard. I just kind of wonder if the blabbering was getting to him more than anyone realized and when he got the news it gave him an escape hatch."
Drake huffed faintly, head tilting.
"You really think he needed an escape hatch for our relationship?"
Bobbi-Ann shook her head, grey blue eyes wide.
"No I didn't...But I can see where someone like him might think it'd be a good idea."
"How do you figure?"
Bobbie-Ann shrugged, giving an apologetic little wave.
"W-well I mean; you two are like complete opposites, you kinda have a rep as a player, up till you two hooked up you hadn't had anything resembling a serious relationship for nearly a decade and everyone had a pretty good idea why." She trailed off, gaze shifting over to Simon, giving a faint shrug.
Simon started, blinking.
"Huh?"
Bobbie-Ann's brow quirked, head tilting.
"Simon, come on. You two were-"
Simon gave a surprised laugh, shaking his head, brow raising, gesturing animatedly towards Drake.
"We were friends! Best friends...I-I mean yeah we tried the dating thing and yeah-it was fine but it was never really that kind of relationship. We loved each other and we were near inseparable and I know there was the running joke about when we were gonna get engaged and all that but that's all it was; jokes and talk and the small town gossip mill.
"I mean come on- it's Desi. Guy could have pretty much any and every guy he wants and he knows it damn good and well. You guys don't seriously believe he's been secretly pining for me for nearly a decade, do you?" He laughed disbelievingly, shaking his head, looking around the group.
Bobbi-Ann froze, eyes widening, blinking rapidly.
"Umm...Wel-" she begins, quickly being cut off by a loud laugh from Drake.
He shook his head, waving towards Bobbi-Ann, giving a bright, convincingly charming smile and a faint eyeroll.
"Of course they don't Evie...least none with a lick of sense do but you remember how it is. Small town, full of gossips and busybodies. It's ridiculous they'd believe that but you know; some people are just romantics at heart. Like the fairytale romcom trope of childhood sweethearts and long lost loves coming back and sweeping them off their feet.
It's cheesy and ridiculous but how else are you gonna make life in Nowhereville Kansas interesting? You know how it is, they get an idea in their heads and nothing can shake it, even the truth...Hell especially the truth...
Right Bobbie?" he finished, looking over at Bobbi-Ann, eyes wide and prodding.
Bobbi-Ann swallowed, smiling widely, nodding like a bobblehead, pointing at Drake.
"Right! Right...Totally. Most of us who really knew you guys know that but you remember how it is around here. Tryin' to tell some of these people they're wrong is like trying to argue with a brick wall. They get how they think it is and nothing is gonna change that." She flashed one more overly wide, reassuring smile towards Simon before kind of shifting, head tilting.
"That being said those set in that view weren't in any way shy about mentioning it...and I know some weren't too gentle or quiet about it either. A few even acted almost offended, like he was some kind of homewrecker going after someone who in their minds was already spoken for."
Simon snorted, blinking in shock.
"Dude- why? I left. I moved out of town and had no intention of ever coming back and was not shy about mentioning it. I've been gone nearly a decade.
What, they expected Drake to just be alone and miserable his whole life?"
Bobbie shrugged, head tilting.
"No...They expected you to eventually realize what you were missing and come back and you two to have the whole 'happily ever after' thing."
Simon started, giving a helpless wave.
"I-wha-why?! Again I left. I had no intention of coming back and I did not make a secret of that. I spent most of senior year planning and getting rid of anything I couldn't take with me. I left the day after graduation...the MORNING after graduation...before the sun was even all the way up.
I've been gone nearly ten years. Even if they really did think that originally surely after the first year or two they should have been able to read the writing on the wall, wise up and move on with reality and stop holding out hope for something that had about the same odds as Big Foot running in the next mayoral election." Simon snorted at the sheer absurdity, shaking his head, looking around the others.
Oof...man that one had to hurt. Drake had a decent poker face but Raphael had no doubt exactly WHO was the main one holding out hope...
Yeesh...he almost feels bad...well...he would if it wasn't HIS Angel he was pining for. As it was he just relied on his own much more skilled poker face to keep the smug smirk internal...it was a close thing but he managed.
Drake gave a faint, not particularly convincing laugh, nodding, pasting on an overly bright smile.
"I know- can't imagine where they get these ideas..."
Simon huffed out a faint laugh, nodding animatedly, totally oblivious.
"Right? And they really expected you to just sit around here alone waiting for me?"
Drake again gave the false laugh, shrugging. Bobbie-Ann shifted uncomfortably, looking him over in concern, reaching up, tucking a stray strand of soft brown hair behind her ear, head tilting, shifting back to Simon.
"Well...no...Not ALONE alone. Figured he'd date, cat around, get his wandering out of the way, have fun or whatever but I think most just assumed all of that was just filler. Kinda figured whenever you came back home you two'd pick right back up and that would be that."
Simon blinked rapidly, head shaking in disbelief, giving a slightly helpless wave.
"I-why would th-"
Drake again gave an overly loud, disbelieving laugh, shaking his head, trying to once more wave it off.
"Hey again Evie; you know how it is. No one has a life of their own they all wanna live vicariously. They just have their own ideas of how things are supposed to go and that's that. I tried telling them they were off the mark but they just assumed I was putting on a brave face. It was just wild-eyed theories and flights of fancy." He smiled again, rolling his eyes, giving a dismissive little shrug.
Bobbie-Ann's brow quirked near censoring for a moment before giving a faint shrug of her own, head tilting concedingly.
"True...even so I could see how it could get to a guy after a while. Especially a guy like Ty. He was all about personal privacy, planning and maintaining control. I know he was falling hard for you and I know he didn't like having his love life being the talk of the town. I could see how it could wear thin after a while." She sighed, shrugging, head tilting, glancing over at Drake, catching his eye.
"No one wants to feel like they're a conciliation prize."
Drake started, shaking his head.
"Wha-H-he wasn't. He never was. I never thought of him like that."
Bobbie-Ann's head tilted, brow rising pointedly.
"But did he?"
"Of course he didn't I-"
"I'm not saying he did but with everything in this town I can see why he might. I don't think he'd just run off because he was suddenly loaded but I could see him winding tighter and tighter with all this small town drama and seeing a sudden windfall as a way to protect himself from getting hurt when he realizes he fell harder than he thought he would." She sighed, reaching over, resting her hand on Drake's shoulder, squeezing.
"Desi I'm not trying to make you feel bad, you can't control the gossip mill here- none of us can. I'm not saying it's your fault he left. I'm just saying I can see it all getting to be too much and spooking him...that's all.
If that's the case then it's entirely possible after a bit of a breather he'll get back in touch. Maybe he just needed some space to think things through without the constant running commentary.
Thinking things through is most definitely his thing. Once he does I'm sure he'll be back in touch. He's not the kind to just let things lie. Give him some time, give him some space. Let him work through things on his own...I'm sure he'll be in touch..." Again she shrugged, glancing around the quickly filling diner, pulling her notepad out of her apron, twirling her pen, glancing from Drake over to Simon and the others, flashing a faint smile, brow quirking.
"Though when he does I don't know if I'd lead with the visit from your ex and three gorgeous strangers...might kinda give the wrong impression..." she giggled, winking teasingly, gaze shifting from Drake over to Simon and the others, smiling brightly.
"Dinner rush is starting, gotta get back to it but it was really great meeting you all and seeing you again Simon. Make sure you stop in again before you head out...maybe when we're slower so we have more time." She smiled again, giving a bit of a wave before spinning around, heading to one of the tables.
Drake kind of watched her go before deflating a bit, shifting back, leaning against the table. Simon sighed faintly, slipping around Magnus, settling next to Drake, slipping his arm around him, hugging him reassuringly. Drake sighed, leaning into it, reaching up, squeezing his hand.
Raphael took a deep breath, shifting awkwardly.
Okay...he doesn't know what's going on here. Simon sees them as just friends...he has no romantic feelings for the guy, and the way he talks he never really did...he kind of accidentally made that brutally clear (ha, h-oh stop with the judgment. He's not gloating-w-well...maybe a little. But not out loud. That's something…it is...hey, he's not the one who cast himself as the villain in the damn romcom-but as he is may as well play it to the hilt). So as far as Simon's concerned there's no rivalry between him and Drake. That's good...well...that's good for Raphael.
With Simon it may be a fair bit more complicated.
It's clear as day that while he doesn't have any romantic love for Drake he platonically loves the guy. Simon looks at Drake the way Raphael looks at Mags. He sees him as his family, as the reason he survived his time here. He knows Simon truly believes if it weren't for Drake he would not have made it through his adolescence. Whatever else is involved here Raphael feels he owes him a debt for everything he did for his Angel. Gloating over the man's pain makes him feel guilty and throwing his relationship with Simon in Drake's face feels nearly cruel.
Drake's very obviously been in love with Simon for the better part of a decade (well...longer as this obviously started sometime around when they started high school). It's pretty clear who in the town was the one holding out hope for this whole 'true love return' thing. From the sound of it that's been a pretty constant thing up till Drake took up with this Tyler.
It sounds like at first Drake just liked that the guy was a challenge but it developed into more. When he talks about the man he can see a warmth in his eyes...it's the same look he catches when he looks at Simon...which...uh yeah. So the man was still very clearly holding a candle for Simon but he does genuinely love this Tyler...and unlike the Simon thing the Ty one is actually reciprocated.
He really doesn't know what to do with this but he had a feeling the key to getting out of this cleanly, quickly and with as little fallout as possible is to find this Tyler person.
He doesn't know if something actually happened with the guy or if over a year of the commentary from random busybody townspeople got the better of him and he took an easy out. Whatever the case they need to figure it out, and they need to do it soon.
The longer they stay here the more likely they are to run into Simon's parents. He's really hoping they can avoid that but the odds of that shrink the longer they stay. He'd be willing to guess with the way gossip travels here they've already heard he was back in town. He doesn't know how that's gonna go down, what their reactions will be but unless they've had some massive epiphany in the last twelve years and suddenly see what horrible bastards someone has to be to throw their fourteen year old child out on his ass just because he wasn't straight he really didn't think they wanted to see their reactions.
Clearly this visit/case thing was gonna have enough drama without that.
He doesn't know why so many of the residence of this town are wrapped up in his Angels past love life- though he has a feeling Drake's near decade of pining and Simon's general lovability are likely the main factors. He doesn't know if something actually happened with this Tyler person or if the guy just spooked, cut and ran.
At least by this point he does actually know Tyler is real (He'd had his doubts) and going by Drake's reactions he knows his feelings for the guy are genuine. Drake was in love with Tyler. He has been honest in that he doesn't know any more about his disappearance than what he already told them. He does know this...
But that's about all he knows.
Well that and if they don't find this Tyler Drake's gonna be looking to Simon for comfort and he kind of doubts it would just be platonic comfort he'd be looking for.
That happens and...Yeah...he really doesn't know what the next steps would be but he does not think they'd be very pleasant...for anyone involved.
Clearly the key to all of this is Tyler.
Find him and all is well...
So that's just what they'll have to do...hopefully sooner rather than later.
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*{****************}
"Well...that was awkward." Magnus muttered the second they closed the door to their room.
Alec snorted, nodding, glancing over at him, setting down on the edge of the bed.
"Right? Poor Raph. Don't know how the guy held his tongue the entire day."
Magnus groaned, crossing the room, falling gracelessly back on the bed next to him, sprawling out, giving another faint nod, eyes obstructed by his hand.
"I know. One thing's for sure; he had far more patience and willpower than I would in this situation. Between the busybody townspeople, the 'meant to be' crap and Drake's mooning the man had the patience of a saint. I'd be impressed if I wasn't so worried for him."
Alec blinked, head tilting.
"You don't think Simon woul-"
Magnus shook his head, waving him off.
"No, no...Simon is loyal to the bone. Even if he did have lingering romantic feelings for Drake he wouldn't let them get in the way of his relationship with Raph. It's pretty clear Simon doesn't see Drake as a past love, rather a platonic one...on the other hand Drake? Uh yeah..."
Alec snorted, nodding.
"I know. That was something else...and I thought I was bad at the subtle thing. I really can't believe Raph was able to just let it all go. I sure as hell couldn't. I'm surprised Simon didn't say anything to him. I mean I know his friend is worried and spinning and going through it or whatever but I can't believe he'd just set back and let him purposefully push Raph's buttons like that. Really can't believe he didn't speak up at all."
Magnus sighed, giving a halfhearted wave with his free hand.
"He would have if he caught any of it."
Alec blinked, looking over in shock.
"What? How could he not catch it? I mean every other conversation was about him and his 'true love'. How does he not connect that that'd get under his boyfriend's skin?"
Magnus shook his head, rubbing his eyes.
"Because his mind is most notably on something else this trip."
Alec tilted his head, looking him over curiously.
"The case? I mean I know Simon goes all in on investigations and he can get kind of tunnel vision at times with them and with this one involving his childhood best friend it'd be pretty absorbing but st-"
"No...Not the case. On whatever's made him purposefully avoid so much as a mention of this place the entire time we've known him."
Alec shrugged, head shaking faintly.
"I-he hasn't totally...he's mentioned some things abo-"
"No he really hasn't. Nothing real anyways. He's told crazy stories about growing up...stories of friends and clumsiness and the infamous 'pumpkin weasel incident' but it's always something like that. Something light, funny, cheery and bright, or just adorably awkward. It's all him or him and some friends...
I've never heard any mention of his family; no mention of parents or siblings or any familial relation.
I don't think it just slipped his mind."
Alec swallowed, settling next to him, stretching out on the bed, catching his hand covering his eyes, gently tugging it up to his lips, squeezing lightly before lowering it down beside his head. Magnus sighed, blinking his eyes open, looking up at him, taking in the bright hazely green eyes wide with concern, shifting over him unsure.
"You think you know why?"
He shrugged, nodding drearily.
"I'm thinking we both know why."
Alec swallowed, nodding, kind of slumping.
"Yeah...I think so too."
He sighed, tugging Magnus closer, slipping his arm around him. Magnus took a deep breath, shifting onto his side, cuddling closer, pulling him in, hugging him tight. He took a deep breath, holding him close for a few moments before shifting back, shaking his head, giving a slight shrug.
"I really don't know how I never realized. I guess between him always being so happy and positive and the charmingly endearing mile a minute babble it just seemed like the guy was an open book. It never occurred to me his past was anything other than happy and uneventful- if a bit awkward and flail-y.
Guess there's a lot more depth under the cheery, adorable surface."
Alec nodded, giving a faint shrug, absently trailing his hand up and down Magnus's back.
"Guess so...I mean obviously we knew there was a lot more to him than just the excitable chatterbox scifi nerd. He's smart and brave and unbelievably loyal and deep and protective. We know there's a lot there but I didn't really see this...though I guess it does kind of explain why he was so apt helping Jessie through the drama with our parents. And when Jessie had said about not wanting to ever get to a point where either side just gives up. I thought that was just him spiraling b-"
Magnus gasped softly, eyes widening, looking up.
"Oh wow...yeah. I thought it was just his first lead on a case and how he and Jessie connected so but the way he was with Jessie? He knew exactly what to say, exactly what the darling was feeling and he was able to talk him through it more than any of the rest of us.
I thought it was because he's just well- Simon- but now? Now I'm thinking it wasn't just speaking from empathy, it was speaking from experience...really, really crappy experience." He sighed, shrugging, cuddling close again.
"I-I don't know...I don't know the particulars but I doubt any of them are especially pleasant. We've known Simon for nearly a year and a half...in that entire time he has not mentioned his family once. Not so much as a word in passing.
That's not just a slip...that's intentional.
Simon did not want to come back here. He said he left the day after graduation and said multiple times he had no intention of ever coming back. That's not striking out on your own- that's basically fleeing into the night.
He was tense the whole flight- he hid it fairly well and Raph was distracting him every chance he got but even that only got so far. The entire time we've been here he's been on edge. He's kept his eyes on the doors, scanned every crowd and yeah...it could just be looking for familiar faces but I don't think it's friendly familiar faces he's watching for...he looks tense, apprehensive...almost frightened.
I do not like seeing that look on him.
It's been a bit better since we got to the house. He seemed to relax, almost like he's actually home. Going by the pictures downstairs and some other odds and ends I'd be willing to guess Simon lived here...likely for at least a few years. I'm thinking if there was anywhere in this town he truly felt at home and safe it was here. That's good...well it's good for him. I don't know how comfortable Raph will be about it given Drake's behavior but if it helps Simon I'm sure he will find it a positive.
I'm sure Raph knows the weight of what Simon's facing here. The entire plane ride he was trying to distract him and he's been on guard from the moment we stepped off the plane. Part of that could be the Drake drama but it's not all of it.
He's been watching the doors and scoping out the crowds just as much as Simon...Hell maybe more.
Whomever Simon fled from is likely still here. I'm thinking if they weren't someone would have given Simon a heads up. The longer we stay the worse it's gonna be for the darling and as small of a town this is the more likely we are to run into them. I'm really, really hoping we can avoid that.
This with this Tyler guy? I don't know what it is. The way Drake talked he seemed sincerely concerned and I do think his feelings for the man are genuine. It is possible there's something darker at play here but in truth just going by the half a day of the rumor mill I can absolutely see that wearing thin on a guy and making him take the first exit he got.
I haven't seen anything overly suspicious and I haven't seen anyone acting out of sorts- short of an entire town of Midwesterners rooting for some fairytale high school sweethearts romcom type scene for two men. I don't know if this is an actual case or a matter of cold feet or something else entirely but whatever it is I do know we need to get it sorted and settled and get the darling back home where he belongs ASAP.
Tomorrow we'll get into the facts, see what we can piece together. Raph said Drake mentioned a suspicious message from Tyler. Hopefully we can listen to the message, maybe go out and take a look around his place and see if we can make sense of this...then we will go from there...quickly."
Alec nodded.
"Definitely. I just wish there was more we could do for Simon. I can't imagine how tense he is with all this. I mean I know I've never had the best relationship with my parents. There were times when I really was convinced they hated me but...but they've never actually said it...never really acted like it. They've never truly rejected me, any of us...That? I...I really don't know. I just don't."
Magnus sighed, cuddling closer, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Me too. If he'd talk to us about it I think we could help more but it's not our place to bring it up. If he wants to he will. Until he does we'll just act like everything's fine, play oblivious, work the case as quickly as we can, get it sorted and hopefully get it done before the darling runs into any unfriendly familiar faces.
In the meantime we'll just keep running interference, investigate the case, and try to keep him distracted enough that he doesn't get bogged down with all of this hometown horror. I really don't know how we'll do that but surely there's some way we can.
Not sure how but there's gotta be some way to distract him."
{****************}
*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*{****************}
Simon gasped, giving a breathless, euphoric little laugh, shivering, hugging Raphael tight, nuzzling against his cheek.
"O-oh wow...that was um...wow..." he mumbled trailing off into another soft breathless little giggle, flopping back against the pillows, stretching, feeling tingly and dizzy and kind of like his bones have been replaced with jello.
"Woah..." he exhaled, trying to take a couple deep breaths to get his heartbeat to a less marathon-y speed and his head to stop spinning.
It wasn't actually helping but he really could not care less right now...
Damn...
He sighed contentedly, hands clumsily trailing up Raphael's back, fingers slipping through his soft, mussed, slightly damp, deep brown hair. Simon hummed softly, shivering again, unable to stop a no doubt dopy ear to ear grin. He sighed, stretching, blinking his eyes open, looking over the other man, feeling his breath catch.
God he was so gorgeous...well...okay it's Raphael; he's always gorgeous, but like this? Good lord.
His usually perfectly styled hair was mussed and tousled and distracting, even darker than usual and glistening. His cheeks are flushed a bright, fetching pink, warm smooth golden skin near glowing. He looked like some kind of fantasy come to life.
Geez...how did he ever get so lucky?
He swallowed, soft gaze shifting over the other man in amazement and total adoration, head shaking nearly dumbfounded. Raphael gave a soft, growly like chuckle, tugging him closer, nuzzling against his cheek. Simon's breath catches, shivering, fingers in his hair grasping, tugging him in closer, head tilting back giving Raphael more access. Raphael hummed softly in approval, nipping lightly at his ear, pressing soft kisses down his neck and along his shoulder, nuzzling again, glancing up, catching his eye, a sweetly impish smirk tugging at his pretty, wonderfully soft lips, brow quirking playfully.
"Told you I could help you relax...it worked...yes?"
Simon giggled bright, nodding emphatically, eyes wide and sparkling.
"Uh-y-yeah...boy I'd say. If I was any more relaxed I'd be dead."
Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, shifting up, tugging him close, brushing a soft kiss to his lips.
"Thinking that might be a bit TOO relaxed. Probably would throw a bit of a wrench into the whole afterglow, cuddling thing. Really rather not do that...kinda one of my favorite parts..."
Simon laughed softly, happily snuggling in, slipping his arm around Raphael, nuzzling close, resting his head on Raphael's shoulder, sighing dreamily, giving a soft, contented nod.
"Mmm...Mine too..." He laughed softly shrugging, glancing up, teasingly catching his eye.
"Though gotta admit after that? Uh yeah...might come in a close second tonight..."
Raphael chuckled, smirking, flashing a teasing little wink, lazily running his hand down his back.
"Yeah?"
Simon giggled, nodding animatedly.
"Oh yeah..."He trailed off with a soft, happy little hum, mustering what little strength he could, leaning up, catching his lips in a slow, languid, kiss.
Raphael hummed approvingly, tugging him closer, tilting his head, deepening the kiss just the slightest bit, lingering for a few moments before slowly shifting back with a soft, satisfied sigh. Simon stretched again, snuggling close, nestling down, curling around Raphael, head coming to rest on his chest, right above his heart.
Raphael gave another soft breath of a laugh, hugging him close for a minute before settling comfortably, hand coming to rest on Simon's back, rubbing slow, relaxing circles. Simon sighed, nestling closer, breath evening out, the slow, smooth, rhythmic beat of Raphael's heart relaxing him even mor-
He paused, eyes blinking back open, head tilting curiously, giving him a clear view of Raphael. His eyes are open, he's staring up at the ceiling, dark eyes shimmering and swirling. He seems tenser than he usually would be when they're settling in like this, holding him a bit tighter than usual.
Simon swallowed, shifting more onto his side, leaning up a bit, looking Raphael over in concern. Raphael caught the movement, glancing over, starting faintly. He blinked, swirls of emotion in his eyes shifting, shuttering, disappearing behind a veil of practiced ease and purposefully disarming allure. He flashes a soft, curious little smile, head tilting, hand on Simon's back stilling.
"Something wrong Amore?"
Simon shrugged, gaze flickering over the slightly false smile and the purposefully relaxed façade, brow quirking.
"I don't know...is there?"
Raphael blinked, giving a faintly convincing little chuckle, teasingly smirking.
"I asked you first."
Simon huffed, brow raising higher.
"Raph?"
He shrugged, head shaking, giving a slight wave.
"What?"
Simon sighed, shifting closer.
"You know what..."
He shook his head.
"No I d-"
"Raph-"
"Wha-"
"Raphael-"
"W-there's nothing-"
"Yeah th-"
"No there's n-"
"I know there i-"
"It's nothing-"
"It's not noth-"
"Yeah i-"
Simon sighed, shaking his head, reaching over, catching Raphael's hand, tugging him closer. He leans over, catching his lips, kissing him soft and slow. Raphael shivers, slipping his arms around him, melting into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Simon, holding him tight.
Simon hummed softly into the kiss, hugging him tightly, nipping lightly at his lower lip, shifting back just the slightest bit, brushing one more kiss to his lips before pulling back the rest of the way. He hugged him once more before loosening his grip, hands sliding down his back, trailing across his sides, again catching Raphael's hand, entangling their fingers, squeezing, looking up, waiting expectantly.
Raphael sighed softly, eyes fluttering open, flickering over Simon. The guise is no longer there; those pretty, wonderfully deep, soulful brown eyes are shimmering and swirling with a complicated mess of emotions. He shrugs faintly, squeezing Simon's hand, absently playing with his fingers, glancing away.
"I-it's nothing. It's fine...just a stupid little thing..."
Simon sighed, shaking his head, reaching up with his free hand, tenderly tracing along his cheek. His hand trails down, caressing his jaw, lightly catching, tilting his head back up, once more meeting those pretty brown eyes.
"It isn't if it's bothering you."
"N-i-it is. It really is. It's nothing important. It's just a stupid little whatever thing and I know it's nothing and it's just like one of those stupid little things that rub you the wrong way and get under your skin and you know they're not anything serious or remotely important or even worth wasting a second thought about but they're just kind of there.
It's like having a piece of gum stuck to your shoe or a thistle in your pants. It's an annoyance and it's kind of irritating and uncomfortable but it's not really any actual trouble and I know you have more than enough stress and tension and drama to deal with being here and with the case and all of that. I know you do and I don't want to put any more on you. That is about the last thing I want to do."
"I don't h-"
Raphael huffed, brow quirking pointedly. Simon sighed, shrugging, head tilting concedingly, giving a faint wave.
"Okay so I do...I really do."
"I know and I don't w-"
Simon shook his head, squeezing his hand again, gaze shifting up, catching his eyes.
"But just because I have my own crap to deal with here doesn't mean I'm just gonna ignore something that's bothering my boyfriend."
He sighed, shaking his head faintly.
"B-but like I said; it's really noth-"
"I still want to know."
"But it's n-"
Simon sighed, shifting closer, looking over him in concern.
"I don't care if it's stupid, or weird or silly or whatever else. Whatever it is it is bothering you. That makes it important. And okay, seriously? It's me. You know I'm not gonna let this go.
Baby? Come on...just tell me. Please?" he trailed off, honey eyes wide, bright and pleading.
Raphael swallowed, blinking before groaning, reaching up, rubbing his eyes, peeking over at him from around his hand, expression half glare, half exasperated pout.
"Ay Dios mío- what have I told you about that look?"
Simon gave a cute, smug little smile.
"That it's very effective?"
He huffed.
"That it's cheating. It's not fair damnit- there's no counter to that."
Simon gave a soft little laugh, shrugging, settling closer, squeezing his hand, tugging it up to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckle.
"Sorry...I only use it when it's really necessary...so?"
"So...?"
Simon huffed.
"Raph!"
"Okay! Okay...but like I said it's really nothing...I just..." He sighed, shrugging, shifting, glancing over, head tilting faintly.
"Why didn't you ever mention that Drake was your ex?"
Simon blinked in confusion, shrugging.
"B-because he's not...I mean...not really. Yeah we tried the dating thing but it wasn't anything really overly serious."
Raphael gave a faint scoff.
"Really? Cause it kinda seems like someone who was at one time the love of your life wou-"
Simon started, shaking his head, shifting closer, squeezing his hand.
"What?! No! Nononono...no...H-he wasn't, that wasn't...it's ju...a-and everyone today w-oh damnit..." he groaned, everything suddenly clicking into place.
Oh crap! How the hell did he not see this?!
How did he not see how uncomfortable Raph would be about the stupid town gossip? God...he was used to it...he'd learned to tune it out a long time ago cause it was just stupid chatter...at least it was to him... but for Raph? Oh man...this entire day people have been acting like him coming back was some big, weepy reunion scene from a damn cheesy romcom crap.
And Raph had just sat through it. He was polite and patient a-oh god...he is such a crap boyfriend.
How the hell did he miss this? And he's a detective!?
Good god...he's a freaking idiot...
He gasped, shaking his head, swallowing, shifting closer, slipping his arm around Raphael, catching his eye, again shaking his head.
"Baby? No...He wasn't the love of my life. You are the love of my life..." he leaned over, kissing him softly, reaching up, tracing along his jaw, pulling back, again catching his gaze, eyes wide and concerned.
"You are the ONLY love of my life...the only person I've ever been in love with. I've never been in love before you...never even close." He swallowed, shaking his head, brushing another soft kiss to his lips, lingering for a moment before pulling back, again meeting his gaze.
"Oh my god baby-I-I am SO sorr-"
Raphael shook his head, catching his hand, stilling it, squeezing tightly.
"No Angel...you don't have to apologize. Like I said it was stupi-"
"No it's not! God today must have been absolute hell for you. You should have just said someth-N-no...that's not...that's not right. Y-you shouldn't have had to say anything. I-I should have just realiz-"
Raphael sighed, shaking his head, again squeezing his hand.
"Amore? No- it's not your fault. I know how wound up you were today. I know coming back here is the last thing you wanted to do and I know all you want to do is get this sorted so we can get back home. I get it and I know you have way too much on your mind with this as it is...like I said it wasn't anything important."
Simon scoffed disbelievingly.
"Not important? My boyfriend having to smile pleasantly and just listen as half the freaking town coo about high school sweethearts and long lost loves? Acting like me coming back is some grand gesture to sweep another man off his feet?
Good lord...I don't know how you made it through! I sure as hell couldn't. No wonder you were so enthusiastic when w- ah crap..." he gave a faint little huff, slumping, head shaking lightly.
"What?"
Simon shrugged, halfheartedly waving.
"Eh just now I feel really guilty about enjoying that so much."
Raphael chuckled, shaking his head, smiling, cuddling close, nuzzling against his cheek.
"Don't...kinda what I was going for there."
Simon chuckled softly, giving a quick, enthusiastic nod, unable to stop a faintly eager little grin, shifting to see him better.
"Oh trust me you most definitely knocked it clean out of the park there. Even s-"
Raphael smiled softly, shaking his head, tugging him close, kissing him lightly.
"Well first off good...again kinda what I was going for...and next? Amore? I don't want you to feel guilty about anything. About today or tonight or anything else. That is the last thing I'd ever want. None of this was your fault and I wasn't in any way implying it was.
You can't control other people's actions or thoughts or opinions and it'd be stupid of me to get mad at you for their behavior. The only thing you're guilty of is being too endearing for your own good and not realizing just how much of an effect you have on those around you.
That is not news-I've known it since pretty much the moment I met you. It's just kind of exasperated here...which...again understandable. I've known you for a year and a half; these people have known you all your life. They've seen you grow up and become the wonderful person you are today. I can't fault them for caring about you or wanting you to have the best in life.
Yes it was a lot and from my point of view pretty uncomfortable but from theirs more than understandable. They're not trying to disrespect or hurt me; they're just looking out for someone they care about, trying to ensure their happiness. I can't fault someone for that. Shoe on the other foot I'd be doing the same exact thing.
It's not their fault, it's not mine, it's most definitely not yours...hell much as I'd like to say otherwise it's not even Drake's, not really. It's no one's fault; just an awkward, confusing, really uncomfortable situation all around with multiple viewpoints...all of which kind of really suck for at least one person involved.
That's why I didn't want to say anything because I knew how you'd take it and I know there's nothing I can really say to make you not think that...Hence why I just said it was nothing.
Cause really it was nothing. It wasn't a threat to our relationship. We're in love, we're together and I trust you more than I have ever trusted anyone. I know our relationship is strong and I know you are the most loyal person I've ever met.
I mean was it uncomfortable stumbling into being the villain in some random romcom? Yeah...it was...but you know my opinion about the opinions of most rank about as high as my opinion on which is the best hookup app.
Yeah it was a kinda rough day and yeah by the end of it it had begun to wear a bit thin but none of that was because of you. It was just the random insanity that was around you.
I know none of it was intentional. I know you have no control over the opinions of random townsfolk and I know if you hadn't been wound tighter than a drum and watching every door like a soldier checking for a sniper you'd of realized and shut it down. You didn't but that isn't your fault.
I never doubted your loyalty and I never doubted our relationship...nothing could make me do that...okay?"
Simon sniffed, nodding, settling closer, relaxing faintly.
"O-okay...and I'm glad cause nothing could make me doubt it either."
Raphael smiled, nodding, squeezing his hand, lifting it to his lips, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to each knuckle.
"Good...and I am sorry I brought it up-"
Simon shook his head.
"No...I'm glad you did. I know this trip I'm gonna be pretty distracted but if anything's bothering you- ANYTHING- even if you think it's silly or nothing or not worth bothering me about or whatever?
Please? J-just bother me..."
Raphael chuckled.
"But you're s-"
"I know-and I'm gonna be no matter what. But I would much rather you just let me know something is bothering you than it all hit me like a freaking freight train when we finally get this sorted and home and my brain stops spinning..."
Raphael snorted, brow teasingly quirking.
"It stops?"
Simon snorted, head tilting concedingly.
"Well...no...But when we get home and it starts spinning on the usual randomness that doesn't take up all my extra focus. J-just if anything is getting to you let me know, give me a heads up and we'll work through it...okay?"
Raphael begins to nod before pausing, kind of hesitating.
"O-okay...Umm..."he shifted kind of uncomfortably.
Simon blinked, swallowing, shifting as well.
"S-so there's something else?"
"Uhh...yeah...Kinda...?"
Simon sighed, slumping, shrugging helplessly, giving a faint wave.
"Okay...what is it? What else did I miss?"
"N-nothing j-"
"Raph? Let's not start this again...just tell me...please?"
Raphael shifted, again hesitating, turning more towards him, clearly trying to see exactly how to word it. Finally he just sighed, glancing back up.
"S-so...uh...you and Drake? You said it was always more just friends? That even though you guys tried to turn it into something else you never really saw him as a real romance, just as a friend. Like your Mags...yeah?"
Simon shrugged, head tilting, brow quirking in faint confusion, clearly a bit lost as to where this was headed.
"Yeah...I mean like I said we tried the romance thing but it just never really felt right. Like it seemed like it should be right- in theory it seemed perfect...but...I don't know. I just never saw him THAT way, you know? Like I loved him and h-honestly there were times-kind of a lot of times- that I really really WANTED to feel that for him but...I...It was just never that.
I loved him. I loved him with all my heart and I know the only reason I made it through my time here was because I had him but no matter how much I'd at times wanted it to be something else it was always a platonic kind of love.
T-that's why it never occurred to me to tell you- I just never really saw him that way...even when I was actively trying to make myself see him like that. He wasn't 'my Ex'...he was just...just 'My Desi..." He shrugged, glancing up, nervously brushing a wayward caramel brown curl back behind his ear.
"A-again- sorry."
Raphael smiled softly, giving a faint wave.
"Again- no need. And what you're describing? I get...one hundred percent. I felt that way a lot about Mags. There were so many times when I wished I just felt that for him, when I'd try to convince myself I did but no matter how much I wanted to I never did. It was never anything other than platonic...and occasionally mixed with some mishmash of jealousy, confusion, admiration and sheer desperation to feel that kind of draw for someone who I knew would accept me exactly how I was."
Simon smiled softly, nodding in relief.
"Exactly...so you do get it."
He nodded.
"Yeah...I do...but I...umm...I'm not so sure Drake saw it that way."
Simon blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
Raphael sighed, giving a slightly apologetic shrug.
"Simon? Drake's in love with you."
Simon started, setting up.
"W-what? No...no h-"
"Angel? He is...I know he is...o-or he was. The way he talks about this Tyler I know he's in love with him now but there was a time he was in love with you. I think some part of his still is."
Simon shook his head, swallowing, blinking.
"No...h-he's not, there's no way. I-I mean we tried that and yeah everyone and then some thought he was-we were b-but that was just...that was just the gossip mill. He wasn't...he's n-he hasn't b-why would you think th...why?" he trailed off, head shaking, eyes wide and worried, shaded with guilt and apprehension.
Raphael swallowed, shrugging.
"Because he looks at you the same way I do."
Simon froze, swallowing.
"I don-"
Raphael sighed, squeezing his hand, head tilting, catching his eye.
"Angel-j-just think over today. Use Mags's trick. Think over the details...his behavior, his reactions...his comments..."
He swallowed, taking a few deep breathes, closing his eyes, rewinding the day, looking at it as an outsider...
The smiles...the hugs...the kisses and comments and jokes and looks...oh man the looks...the conversation with Bobbi-Ann...the teasing and flir-
Oh...oh...
"Oh crap..." Simon breathed, head shaking disbelievingly before startling, looking over at Raphael.
"Oh my god! This whole day! Everything...h-he...he's been...and you! You...he was...he and y-and we're staying at his hous-oh damnit..." he trailed off, groaning, reaching up, rubbing his face.
He groaned again, head shaking.
"Oh my god; he has been hanging on me all day! Flirting and teasing and joking and hugging and kissing a-and I thought...I really thought it was just Desi. Just his way. He's flirty and tactile and all of that. H-he's always been like that...o-or at least he's always been like that with me...which...ah crap..." he shook his head, looking over at Raphael in dumbfounded disbelief.
"We were giving Alec a hard time for not realizing he was dating a guy for a few months...I was leading a guy on for over half a freaking decade! God I'm an idiot..." He groaned, rubbing his eyes.
Raphael shook his head, shifting closer, slipping his arm around him.
"No you're not, and you weren't leading him o-"
Simon scoffed.
"HOW was I not leading him on? I hugged him and kissed him and told him I loved him all the time. I laughed along with the jokes and comments, brushed them off as nothing i-oh for gods sakes. The senior year engagement betting pool! Was that actually a joke or was it some weird, sneaky, quasi-proposal?
Oh my god...there were SO many things I should have caught! That should have been obvious. So many comments and running jokes and little...no wonder half the freaking town ran with it! Apparently the only person who didn't think we were together was me!
I really need to apologize to Alec. I was laughing at him for not realizing he was dating a guy for a few months. I was doing it for over half a freaking decade! Wha-" He trailed off, looking over censuringly.
"Are you seriously laughing at me right now?!"
Raphael started, eyes wide, freezing.
"No-I wa-"
"Yes-I heard y-"
He shifted, holding up his hands placatingly.
"O-okay...maybe I did just a little...but I'm just relieved it's out in the open and you'll know and see it now...that's all. It was kind of a lot today and I'm just relieved for the rest of the trip at least you'll be aware of it."
Simon sighed, deflating a bit, giving a conceding wave.
"Okay yeah...fair..." He groaned, shaking his head, looking up at him helplessly.
"Damnit today must have been torture for you."
Raphael snorted, head tilting.
"Sure as hell wasn't a picnic. Kinda hard holding your temper when some obnoxiously athletic escapee from a country album is trying to steal your boyfriend."
Simon groaned, shaking his head.
"Ugh...And I just laughed it off like it was nothing...and now we're staying in his house..." He set up, shrugging hopelessly.
"I- do you want to leave? We can stay somewhere else. Tornado season just passed, should have been enough time for them to do the seasonal update on the Motor Inn...o-or the Motel Six? I mean in the last dateline footage it didn't look too bad...Or-"
Raphael shook his head, waving him off.
"No Angel, it's fine."
Simon tilted his head, looking him over.
"Is it actually fine or are you just saying it's fine?"
He sighed, hesitating a moment before giving a faint shrug.
"I-well...it will be. I mean is it awkward staying in the home of someone who's been pining for my boyfriend for the better part of a decade? Yeah-that? That kinda sucks...b-"
Simon started, beginning to move to the edge of the bed.
"Well we can j-"
Raphael reached over, catching his hand, tugging him back, catching his eye, shaking his head.
"Okay so it is kinda awkward...but one, we're already here and fleeing into the night might draw a bit of attention. Two, staying here will allow us to figure this out sooner and get it sorted faster. And three? Whatever else this place is it's the place you feel most comfortable here." He smiled, shrugging, gesturing around the room.
"This was your room...this is where you felt safe. It was your sanctuary when you were going through one of the worst times in your life. If there was ever a time you needed that it's now..."
He swallowed, shaking his head.
"But you-"
Raphael smiled softly, shaking his head, squeezing his hand.
"I'm fine...I really am. I'm lying in bed with the love of my life, my two best friends are right down the hall and now everything is out in the open. Tomorrow we'll dive into the case, figure out what's going on, find out what's up with this Tyler guy, get it sorted, and get us back home.
Maybe it's nothing...maybe it's like that Bobbi-Ann said. Guy got cold feet and jumped for the exit to keep his heart safe. I can see that...few hours of it was wearing on me...can't imagine over a year of the running commentary."
Simon huffed faintly, head shaking, looking over at him.
"Yeah...I-I could definitely see that. How the hell did you manage to keep your cool?"
Raphael shrugged.
"'s just my way..."
Simon snorted, brow quirking. Raphael smiled, giving a somewhat innocent look before shrugging faintly, head tilting concedingly, holding up a finger.
"O-okay so that and the fact that you were clearly totally oblivious to it...and you shutting it down like painfully hard helped a lot."
Simon blinked in confusion.
"I-wha-"
Raphael shifted, giving a near guiltily apologetic wave.
"Uh...yeah...B-back at the diner? With Bobbie-Ann?"
Simon blinked again, head tilting.
"Yeah...? What about it?"
Raphael shifted, giving a slight huff of an almost laugh, scratching nervously at his neck.
"Well...your total disbelief at the absurdity of people thinking you were just gonna come back for Drake? Uh...y-yeah...pretty sure he was one of them. Like the main one...and you kinda...sorta-"
"Basically laughed in his face like it was delusional..." Simon finished, groaning, slumping back against the pillows, rubbing his eyes.
"Y-yeah that was uh..." he trailed off on a faint chuckle.
Simon peeked through his fingers, glaring.
"Again with the laughing?"
He blinked.
"That wasn't at y-"
"I know exactly what it was about. You know for not liking being cast as the romcom villain that's kinda a really villainnish move."
Raphael sighed, head tilting.
"Fair...though in my defense he WAS trying to steal my boyfriend...like right in front of me. Something this entire freaking town seems to be rooting for..."
Simon sighed, head tilting concedingly right back, flippantly waving.
"Okay also fair." He agreed, groaning, shaking his head at his utter cluelessness, glancing over, flashing a guiltily apologetic look, helplessly shrugging.
"I'm so sorry...this is gonna be such a mess."
Raphael sighed, settling close, slipping his arm around him, hugging him, leaning over, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, nodding faintly.
"Yes...yes it will..."
Simon gave a surprised near laugh, nudging him playfully, brow quirking.
"Hell of a vote of confidence there."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging unconcerned.
"Well it's the truth..." He smiled, squeezing his arm, shifting more onto his side, reaching over, again catching Simon's hand, squeezing lightly.
"It will be a mess. It will be awkward and uncomfortable and there are probably gonna be moments- maybe a lot of moments- when it's tense and dramatic and where everything seems up in the air."
Simon snorted, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.
"Man you really know how to cheer a g-"
Raphael chuckled again, smiling softly, reassuringly squeezing his hand.
"BUT whatever comes at us on this case or visit or whatever the hell it turns out to be there is absolutely no doubt in my mind we will make it through. We'll figure out what's going on, get it sorted and we will go home and get on with our lives.
Whatever this is? It's just one thing, one moment. There might be awkwardness or confusion or anger or any number of other things but at the end of the day it's just one moment...a couple of days out of our lives.
It's not changing anything between us and whatever comes we will face it...and we will sort it...and we will make it through. It might seem insane and overwhelming while we're in it but...hell...what case of ours HASN'T?
You were taken hostage in a bank robbery, we solved the biggest smuggling ring in Santa Barbra history, Solved multiple jewelry heists, and murders and thefts, faced a lunatic who thought he was a Warlock from another dimension, recovered an entire missing day, caught a crooked cop and stopped one of the single most feared monsters in the country.
I don't know what the deal with this Tyler thing is gonna be but I do know whatever it is; we've faced worse. We've made it through worse...and we will make it through this...Okay?"
Simon took a deep breath, feeling the knot in his stomach loosen a bit, nodding, giving a faint smile, settling closer to him.
"Okay..." He mumbled, hugging him tight, holding him close, nuzzling in against his neck, just being for a moment...breathing deep, centering himself.
Raphael hummed softly, holding him, nuzzling against his hair, pressing a soft kiss. Simon sighed, feeling the tension melting out of him, feeling his pulse ease and his brain slow and calm. Finally he took a deep breath, pulling back, shifting to where again he once again could see Raphael, head tilting, giving a faint sigh.
"I think I'm gonna have to have a talk with Drake. I don't want to lose our friendship over this but...I...I really...we really need to be on the same page here. I don't want any ambiguity...I never wanted that. I thought we were on the same page b-but clearly we weren't.
I need him to know that that? That's just...just not a possibility. It never was...not really. I don't want to lose his friendship over this. I don't want him to hate me or feel like I was using him or whatever all that time but he needs to know that anything between us is purely platonic and that is all it's ever gonna be.
I really hope he can accept that..."
Raphael sighed, shrugging.
"I think he will. I mean he's definitely not my favorite person but he's not a total ass either. It might not be what he imagined his relationship with you would be but I don't think he has an all or nothing type mentality towards it either. He hasn't been overly friendly towards me but he also hasn't been hostile or even overly pushy...just kind of irritating.
He kind of reminds me of Ash-"
"Hey! Don't say that! I have better taste than that! I mean we weren't ever really together but even so..."
Raphael chuckled, head tilting concedingly.
"True...I just mean he seems to like the competition and thinks it's almost a game. Honestly I don't even know how much of the flirting today was actual emotions and how much was just jackassary competitiveness. I think if all you have to offer him is friendship he'll be more than okay with that.
Also he has begun to move on. When he talks about Tyler I definitely see love in his eyes, and there does seem to be genuine concern. I think if we can figure out what happened here- hopefully find this Tyler and get him to come back, or at the very least get the lines of communication back open- I really think everything will be fine."
Simon took a deep breath, nodding, settling closer.
"I hope so...I really am sorry putting you though all of this."
Raphael shrugged, giving a faint wave.
"It's not your fault Amore. You can't help the effect you have on people..." He paused, glancing over, a pretty little spark dancing in those deep, dizzying eyes, settling closer, hand slipping over, running teasingly over Simon's side.
"Though it'd probably not have been nearly as bad if your stupidly infatuated ex wasn't so irritatingly hot..."
Simon gave a surprised laugh, brow quirking.
"You think he's hot? Didn't think you really got that."
Raphael huffed, looking over sarcastically.
"I don't but it's not that hard to piece together. Guy looks like a fitness model vacationing at a dude ranch. He's freaking gorgeous..."
Simon huffed, settling closer, shaking his head, reaching up, tracing along Raphael's cheek.
"You are gorgeous..."
Raphael scoffed, shrugging. Simon gave a soft, warm laugh, propping himself up on his elbow, gaze flickering over Raphael, giving a soft, dreamy little sigh. Raphael again shrugged, almost pouting, a cute little faint sparkle in those pretty deep eyes.
Hmm...Looks like she's not the only one who was in need of a little reassurance tonight...
Simon gave a soft huff, snuggling closer, nuzzling against his cheek, talking softly, words punctuated with soft little butterfly kisses along his cheek, jaw and neck.
"Oh come on baby? You know you are. You're the most gorgeous person I've ever seen. You take my breath away, make me dizzy and giddy and make my head spin in a way that no alcohol ever could." Simon hummed softly, leaning up, catching his lips in a slow, deep, languid kiss.
Raphael gasped, shifting against him, happily responding. Simon broke the kiss on a soft, surprised little gasp, pulling back just enough to look him over. His breath caught at the bright, glittering, hungry look in those dizzying brown eyes...
Huh...o-okay...so...maybe tonight his boyfriend needs something a fair bit MORE than a little reassurance. Mmm...Well he is more than happy to help with that.
He swallowed, head shaking, reaching up, tracing along Alejandra's jaw lovingly.
"When I met you? Geez...I was struck dumb! I couldn't talk and then I couldn't shut up-which-yeah pretty much par for the course with me but even with that it was a lot. You blindsided me, swept me off my feet...I totally fell for you." he laughed softly at the old line, smiling shrugging.
"I fell the moment I met you and I fall further every single day...you know that...right baby?"
Raphael chuckled, sighing faintly, gaze flickering over him, nodding.
"Yeah...I know.
But he's so tall!" he grumbled, playfully pouting, deep eyes sparkling impishly, that enticing, head spinning excited little spark flickering bright.
Simon giggled, nodding.
"He is...very tall..." He shrugged kind of dismissively, gaze flickering over Raphael.
"I'm not really that big on tall. I actually really like being the taller one in the couple."
Raphael smirked, head tilting, gaze shifting curiously over Simon.
"You do huh?"
Simon hummed, nodding.
"Mmm...I do..."He paused, smirking, slipping closer, catching his lips in another slow, deep kiss.
He shifts, deepening the kiss, hand teasingly trailing up Raphael's side, coming to rest on his shoulder, pressing him back, crowding in, hands sliding down Raphael's arms, catching his hands, entangling their fingers, squeezing, lifting them up, pressing them back beside his head. Raphael shivered excitedly, nodding, giving an eager little gasp, squeezing Simon's hands, shifting against him.
Simon hummed approvingly, finally breaking the kiss, nipping lightly at his lower lip before pulling back just enough to look him over, catching Raphael's eye, brow quirking eagerly, smirking.
"And I especially like just how much YOU like me being taller than you."
Raphael gave a soft, kind of breathless laugh, nodding eagerly, dark eyes flashing, shifting over Simon.
"I do...I really REALLY do..."
Simon chuckled, leaning in till he's just barely a breath away, nodding faintly, glittering honey eyes sparking bright and hot.
"Mmm...I know...I really REALLY know..."
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
*****EndOfChapterNotes*****
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
YAY! Another one done. I kind of figured after the day Raphael had he could use a bit of reassurance. I really love their relationship. I almost feel bad for Drake, can't blame him for falling for Simon but...uh yeah...he's gonna have to find a new tree to bark up. With any luck they can tack down Tyler and get it sorted.
Good lord this one took forever (to be fair 3 sections could nearly be 3 chapters so it's kind of understandable). Sorry for it being such a long weight. Things have been kinda topsy turvy in the real world right now, kinda put a crimp in my writing for a bit. I think things should be evening out...I'm hoping- as I near always am- that I can start picking up the pace with the update thing but I'm going as fast as I can. I really do have all the chapters planned out it's just a matter of taking them from random notes in my outlines to actual proper chapters but I really do know what I'm doing here.
So this was a really long one, we covered kind of a lot here- probably could have been multiple chapters but I like keeping it at 12 and I really did have every intention of each section being fairly short...
Did not work out but that's what I intended.
Still we did cover a lot of ground here and we're ready to jump into the actual Case type thing.
So here's the ever-present update list:
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
The Girl/Demon In The Mirror (Verse 4)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
So next up is V6- I really like how that one is turning out. If you haven't noticed V5 is off the update list as I actually have that story completed. I'm hoping the more I get done the faster it'll go.
So what do you think?
So is something up with Tyler or did he just run? IS it even a case or just a matter of cold feet, too much gossip? How will Simon and Drake's conversation go?
Stay tuned to find out...
*~Page 54 of 54~*
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